PASS North – Thunder Road Speedbowl (VT) – 5/28/16
Last Update: 3:57 p.m. ET
(Updated throughout the day – Be sure to refresh this page frequently)
What Won the Race: Glen Luce powered around Wayne Helliwell, Jr. on a lap 119 restart and pulled away to win the 150-lap race.
The Finish:
| 1 | 7L | Glen Luce |
| 2 | 27nh | Wayne Helliwell, Jr. |
| 3 | 7 | Travis Benjamin |
| 4 | 35 | Derek Ramstrom |
| 5 | 4 | Ben Rowe |
| 6 | 12G | Derek Griffith |
| 7 | 54 | Johnny Clark |
| 8 | 60 | DJ Shaw |
| 9 | 24 | Mike Rowe |
| 10 | 37 | Scott Payea |
| 11 | 16me | Travis Stearns |
| 12 | 49 | Brent Dragon |
| 13 | 15 | Mike Hopkins |
| 14 | 97 | Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. |
| 15 | 09 | Jeremy Davis |
| 16 | 2m | Matt Matheson |
| 17 | 00 | Bryan Kruczek |
| 18 | 1X | Todd Stone |
The Skinny: Travis Benjamin led the first 101 laps before giving up the lead to Jeremy Davis on lap 102. Davis led until lap 118 when he lost power under the hood of his No. 09 during a caution. Wayne Helliwell, Jr. inherited the lead for the restart but would give it up to Glen Luce. From there, Luce didn’t look back en route to victory lane.
Winning Quote: “This is unbelievable for me. It’s hard to describe, some people don’t understand how hard it is. I lost a good friend of mine that I met over here that I met racing in Vermont to cancer. It was just emotional for me to see all the friends, they’re from another state and they’re cheering for me just as much as the guy next door.” – Glen Luce
Notebook: Bryan Kruczek is back in action with the Pro All Stars Series after missing the last two races. He told Speed51.com powered by JEGS that he decided to skip out on Speedway 95 due to a poor weather forecast and missed Speedway 95 due to a wedding.
Derek Ramstrom has raced at a lot of race track up and down the East Coast, but he has never competed at Thunder Road before. Today marks his first career start in any type of car at “the nation’s site of excitement.”
Garrett Hall, a two-time PASS North winner already in 2016, did not make the trip to Thunder Road. Defending race winner Joey Doiron, who had a rough start to the season, is also not in the pit area.
Car Count: 18 Super Late Models are in the pit area.
Title Fight: Mike Hopkins enters Sunday’s event with a two point lead over DJ Shaw in the PASS North standings.
Winning Chassis: Kyle Busch Motorsports
Winning Engine: Butler MacMaster
Winning Shocks: Seth Holbrook Motorsports
Winning Crew Chief: Seth Holbrook
On the Move: Wayne Helliwell, Jr. started shotgun on the field after having to swap out a leaking tire after qualifying heats. He charged from 18th on the grid to finish second, a gain of 16 positions.
Biggest Loser: Jeremy Davis led from lap 102 to lap 118 but was forced to retire early after a clutch line broke, causing damage to the distributor. He started second and finished 15th, a loss of 13 positions.
Starting Line-Up:
| 1 | 7 | Travis Benjamin |
| 2 | 09 | Jeremy Davis |
| 3 | 16me | Travis Stearns |
| 4 | 7L | Glen Luce |
| 5 | 97 | Joey Polewarczyk |
| 6 | 12G | Derek Griffith |
| 7 | 35 | Derek Ramstrom |
| 8 | 37 | Scott Payea |
| 9 | 24 | Mike Rowe |
| 10 | 27nh | Wayne Helliwell, Jr. |
| 11 | 4 | Ben Rowe |
| 12 | 15 | Mike Hopkins |
| 13 | 60 | DJ Shaw |
| 14 | 54 | Johnny Clark |
| 15 | 1x | Todd Stone |
| 16 | 49 | Brent Dragon |
| 17 | 00 | Bryan Kruczek |
| 18 | 2m | Matt Matheson |
Heat Race Results:
Qualifying Heat #1 Unofficial Results
| 1 | 7 | Travis Benjamin |
| 2 | 4 | Ben Rowe |
| 3 | 16me | Travis Stearns |
| 4 | 97 | Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. |
| 5 | 35 | Derek Ramstrom |
| 6 | 60 | DJ Shaw |
| 7 | 27 | Wayne Helliwell, Jr. |
| 8 | 1x | Todd Stone |
| 9 | 00 | Bryan Kruczek |
Qualifying Heat #2 Unofficial Results
| 1 | 09 | Jeremy Davis |
| 2 | 15 | Mike Hopkins |
| 3 | 7L | Glen Luce |
| 4 | 12 | Derek Griffith |
| 5 | 37 | Scott Payea |
| 6 | 24 | Mike Rowe |
| 7 | 54 | Johnny Clark |
| 8 | 49 | Brent Dragon |
| 9 | 2 | Matt Matheson |
Qualifying Events: Two qualifying heats will set the grid for today’s 150-lap main event.
Practice Results:
| 1 | 7 | Travis Benjamin | 12.693 |
| 2 | 16me | Travis Stearns | 12.707 |
| 3 | 4 | Ben Rowe | 12.707 |
| 4 | 60 | DJ Shaw | 12.708 |
| 5 | 27nh | Wayne Helliwell, Jr. | 12.747 |
| 6 | 1X | Todd Stone | 12.750 |
| 7 | 12G | Derek Griffith | 12.753 |
| 8 | 54 | Johnny Clark | 12.761 |
| 9 | 15 | Mike Hopkins | 12.769 |
| 10 | 09 | Jeremy Davis | 12.856 |
| 11 | 35 | Derek Ramstrom | 12.887 |
| 12 | 97 | Joey Polewarczyk | 12.903 |
| 13 | 24 | Mike Rowe | 12.906 |
| 14 | 49 | Brent Dragon | 12.911 |
| 15 | 7L | Glen Luce | 12.916 |
| 16 | 37 | Scott Payea | 12.965 |
| 17 | 00 | Bryan Kruczek | 12.983 |
| 18 | 2m | Matt Matheson | 13.091 |
Event Schedule: Racing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. Each division will have qualifying heats and consolation races (if needed) before feature action begins. PASS North Super Late Models, Late Models, PASS Modifieds, Tiger Sportsman and Street Stocks are all in action.
Who To Watch For: Mike Rowe is the driver in the field with the most experience at Thunder Road. Fans will also want to keep an eye on Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. who has many laps around the track in an ACT Late Model.
Entry List:
| 00 | Bryan Kruczek |
| 1X | Todd Stone |
| 2M | Matt Matheson |
| 4 | Ben Rowe |
| 7 | Travis Benjamin |
| 7L | Glen Luce |
| 09 | Jeremy Davis |
| 12G | Derek Griffith |
| 15 | Mike Hopkins |
| 16ME | Travis Stearns |
| 24 | Mike Rowe |
| 27NH | Wayne Helliwell, Jr. |
| 35 | Derek Ramstrom |
| 37 | Scott Payea |
| 49 | Brent Dragon |
| 54 | Johnny Clark |
| 60 | DJ Shaw |
| 97 | Joey Polewarcyk, Jr. |
The Track: Thunder Road International Speedbowl is a high-banked 1/4-mile oval famous for the “widowmaker,” a wall that sticks out off of turn four.
Weather: It’s a beautiful day for racing in Vermont with temperatures in the low 80’s.
Next Series Race: The Pro All Stars Series North will make a stop at White Mountain Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 11.
